Aluminium

What is it? Aluminium is a metallic element found naturally in the Earth’s crust. In fact it is the third most common element, and most common metal, in the Earth’s crust. Aluminium is most commonly found in the ore bauxite, from where it is extracted.

There are many aluminium-containing compounds that have a range of chemical properties and uses.What’s the myth? It has been alleged that use of aluminium-containing deodorant and antiperspirant products increases the risk of breast cancer. A related theory suggests that underarm shaving increases the risk of deodorant- or antiperspirant-induced breast cancer. Aluminum-based compounds are the active ingredient in antiperspirants, and work by temporarily blocking sweat ducts to prevent the flow of sweat to the skin's surface. It has been suggested that, by preventing perspiration, antiperspirants prevent the body sweating out toxins. It has also been suggested that aluminium-containing compounds may be absorbed by the skin and cause oestrogen-like (hormone-mimicking) effects in the body. It is known that oestrogen can promote the growth of breast cancer tissue.FACT: Aluminium-containing compounds do not prevent excretion of toxic substances Toxic compounds are primarily removed from the body by excretion with other waste products via urine or faeces, with the liver and kidneys play the primary role in filtering wastes prior to excretion. In healthy people, the kidneys eliminate the vast majority of aluminium from the body. Other mechanisms, such as sweating, crying, coughing and exhaling, are only minor routes of detoxification. Additionally, antiperspirants reduce the amount of sweat, they do not completely prevent sweating.FACT: Humans have widespread exposure to aluminium Humans are exposed to aluminium from various sources, including food, packaging, cooking utensils, water, medicines and the atmosphere. Food additives are the main source of aluminium intake. Exposure from deodorants and antiperspirants is a minor source of aluminium.FACT: There is no evidence linking the use of deodorants or antiperspirants to breast cancer In fact, a 2002 study of over 1600 women, half of whom had breast cancer and half of whom did not, found no overall difference in the use of underarm products and shaving practices.[1] In 2010 the Cancer Council published the Fact Sheet ‘Cancer Myths: Deodorants and breast cancer’[2], debunking the myth. Breast cancer organisation ‘Breakthrough’ (breakthrough.org.uk) says there is “currently no good scientific evidence linking deodorants or antiperspirants to an increase in breast cancer risk”. Consumer organisation CHOICE states that “many extremely thorough epidemiological studies have failed to find that using antiperspirant is even a risk factor for developing breast cancer, let alone the leading cause of it”[3]. The US FDA has dismissed the concern that antiperspirants can cause breast cancer as a “myth.” In 2003 the American Cancer Society (ACS) announced that “there is no proof that the use of antiperspirants or deodorants causes breast cancer, contrary to widespread rumor”.[4] The ACS reiterated this position in 2006. A 2008 review by a group of clinical experts in oncology on whether there is evidence for a link between use of deodorants and antiperspirants concluded that “it can be said that this question does not constitute a public health problem and that it therefore appears unnecessary to continue research on the subject”.[5]The bottom line? You can continue to use aluminium-containing underarm deodorants and antiperspirants with confidence. There is no evidence to suggest that these products increase the risk of developing breast cancer.Sources[1] Mirick, D. K., Davis, S. and Thomas, D.B. 2002, Antiperspirant use and the risk of breast cancer, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 94(20), pp 1578-80.[2]www.cancerwa.asn.au/resources/cancermyths/deodorants-breast-myth[3] Choice – Australian Consumers’ Association 2004, Personal care products: myths, rumours and facts[4] Personal Care Products Council, “Antiperspirants & Deodorants “. http://cosmeticsinfo.org/HBI/14/[5] Namer, M., Luporsi, E., Gligorov, J. Lokiek, F. and Spielmann, M. 2008, “The use of deodorants/antiperspirants does not constitute a risk factor for breast cancer”, in Bulletin du Cancer, 95(9):871-80. See www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18829420, or for English translation see www.thefactsabout.co.uk/files/3102008113158review_study.pdf